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Biomedical subjects

P Higgins

Publications and source records attributed to P Higgins.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Diurnal variation in the symptoms of colds and influenza.

The present research examined diurnal variation in the severity of symptoms of experimentally-induced colds and influenza. Nasal secretion was greatest in the morning, decreased over the day, and then showed a slight increase in the late evening. Colds did not change the average temperature, nor did they alter the temperature rhythm. Similar, negative results were found with alertness ratings. Influenza B illnesses produced an increase in nasal secretion and systemic effects. The average temperature increased during this illness and subjects reported that they felt more drowsy. Diurnal variation in the severity of local and central symptoms was observed, with nasal secretion and the temperature increase being greatest in the early morning. These results have important implications for the assessment and treatment of the illnesses.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Upper respiratory tract viral infection and mucociliary clearance.

Twenty-six normal volunteers were exposed to rhinovirus or influenza B virus. Measurement of nasal mucociliary clearance, ciliary beat frequency, percent of epithelium ciliated, ciliary ultrastructure and nasal transmucosal potential difference were made before exposure, during viral incubation and at the time of expected overt infection. Ten volunteers failed to become infected, six were subclinically infected and nine were infected with symptoms. There were no significant differences between the results in volunteer groups during the incubation period or between uninfected and subclinical groups at the time of expected symptoms. Six of nine symptomatic infected volunteers had prolonged nasal clearance, and six of the seven biopsied had less than 50% of their epithelium ciliated. However, there was no significant reduction in ciliary beat frequency nor increase in ultrastructural ciliary abnormalities within this group of symptomatic volunteers. Of the two symptomatic infected (influenza B) volunteers tested, both showed significantly reduced transmucosal potential difference.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

An evaluated programme of rheumatology training for general practitioners.

The management of painful, upper-limb disorders by 34 general practitioners (GPs) was examined 3 months before and 3 months after personal instruction of GPs by a consultant rheumatologist. Tuition was conducted either in GP surgeries or a hospital out-patient department. Following instruction there were significant increases in the application of appropriate treatments (p less than 0.0005) and of local corticosteroid injections by GPs (p less than 0.005), fewer requests for investigations and less-frequent hospital referrals for consultant rheumatology opinions. Hospital out-patient instruction was associated with a significant reduction of patients' time off work (p less than 0.005) and, in general, differences of management appeared to be more pronounced amongst those GPs instructed in the hospital than in GP surgeries. The study showed that personal instruction of GPs by a consultant rheumatologist may result in modifications of practice, at least in the short term. The evidence indicates that such alterations of GP management may significantly reduce patient morbidity.

Arm↗
PubMed1985

Studies on the Inoculation and Competitiveness of a Rhizobium leguminosarum Strain in Soils Containing Indigenous Rhizobia.

The competitiveness of a Rhizobium leguminosarum strain was investigated at two separate locations in field inoculation studies on commercially grown peas. The soil at each location (sites I and II) contained an indigenous R. leguminosarum population of ca. 3 x 10 rhizobia per g of soil. At site I it was necessary to use an inoculum concentration as large as 4 x 10 CFU ml (2 x 10 bacteria seed) to establish the inoculum strain in the majority of nodules (73%). However, at site II the inoculum strain formed only 33% of nodules when applied at this (10 CFU ml) level. Establishment could not be further improved by increasing the inoculum concentration even as high as 10 CFU ml (9.6 x 10 bacteria seed). The inoculum strain could be detected at both sites 19 months after inoculation. Analysis by intrinsic antibiotic resistance patterns and plasmid DNA profiles indicated that a dominant strain(s) and plasmid pool existed among the indigenous population at site II. Competition experiments were carried out under laboratory conditions between a dominant indigenous isolate and the inoculum strain. Both strains were shown to be equally competitive.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1984

Proliferative and antigenic properties of rectal cells in patients with chronic ulcerative colitis.

Two markers related to preneoplasia were studied simultaneously in ulcerative colitis (UC). The renewal of the rectal epithelial cells together with expression of second-trimester fetal antigen (STFA) were evaluated in nine patients with UC and four healthy subjects. Endoscopic biopsies were incubated with tritiated thymidine. Cell renewal was studied with microautoradiography, and the antigenic properties of the cells were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence. At the time of the study, all the UC patients were in a mildly active or in a quiescent stage of the disease; their biopsies did not show dysplastic or neoplastic changes in epithelial cells. STFA was expressed in five UC patients. The analysis of cell renewal in this group revealed a shift of the proliferative compartment towards the luminal surface of the colonic crypts. By contrast, the patient group with STFA-negative reactions showed a pattern of cell proliferation similar to that observed in the controls. These results suggest that the expression of STFA in colonic mucosa is associated with an expansion of the epithelial stem cell population or with arrested cell differentiation, and it may represent a phenotypic marker of proneness of the mucosa toward neoplastic development.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of radiation therapy on the tissue capsule of soft tissue implants.

A prosthesis has been developed for cosmesis after lumpectomy surgery for breast carcinoma. The device is saline filled and percutaneously adjustable in volume to permit an optimal cosmetic result after surgical wound healing. A series of 24 studies of 18 weeks' duration using the adult rabbit animal model were first used to study tissue capsule formation around textured versus smooth surface control implants and to evaluate the effects of volume adjustments on the tissue capsule. Single or multiple adjustments of implant volume had no effect on tissue capsule thickness or morphology. Because lumpectomy surgery is invariably followed by radiation therapy, a series of six studies was then conducted to determine the effects of a typical course of radiation therapy on tissue capsule formation. One week after device implantation, a 4 x 4 cm field including the implant was irradiated with 5,000 rad (200 rad/day x 5 days/week x 5 weeks). The animals were maintained for a 6 week period after radiation treatment. After sacrifice, the implants were removed, and the tissue capsules studied using conventional histologic techniques, including scanning and transmission electron microscopy. There was no statistically significant difference in tissue capsule thickness compared to nonirradiated controls. Tissue capsule morphology, however, differed markedly. Radiation therapy decreased angiogenesis, cellularity, and the inflammatory cell response to the implants. Qualitatively, radiation treatment seemingly improved rather than compromised the connective tissue response to the implants.

Animals↗